Youth Philanthropy Council Grant Program

The Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC) is a youth-led grantmaking initiative facilitated by the Hutchinson Community Foundation. Established to engage students in the principles and practice of philanthropy, YPC invites youth from high schools across Reno County to play a leadership role in identifying community needs, developing funding criteria, evaluating proposals, and awarding grants. The program fosters civic engagement and encourages youth to contribute meaningfully to their communities. YPC operates with financial support from the Richard W. Dillon Memorial Fund for Youth Philanthropy, a fund created by the Dillon family to honor Dick Dillon’s legacy of service and generosity in Reno County. Each year, the Council distributes approximately $5,000 in grants, with individual award amounts capped at $1,000. The funding is intended for projects that directly benefit youth in Reno County and demonstrate youth leadership or participation in their creation and implementation. In 2026, proposals are due by January 15. All applications must be submitted through the online Foundant Grant Lifecycle Management (GLM) system available via the Hutchinson Community Foundation website. Funded activities must be completed between March 9 and October 31, 2026, and a brief final report is required to document project outcomes and expenditures. YPC prioritizes projects that promote healthy development, foster youth engagement in the arts, support meaningful youth service, and build positive youth-adult relationships. Projects must be youth-led or meaningfully include youth voices, demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period, and have a signed endorsement from a youth participant or beneficiary. Programs with strong planning and realistic budgets are favored. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, special purpose units of government, and community groups with a qualified fiscal sponsor. Grants to individuals or unqualified organizations are not permitted. Compliance with nondiscrimination laws is mandatory for all applicants. Award decisions will be made by the Youth Philanthropy Council, with selected projects announced at a special ceremony scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2026. Attendance by at least one representative from each awarded organization is expected. For more information, applicants may contact Jan Steen, Senior Program Officer, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 620.663.5293.

Projects led by or involving youth are prioritized; include youth statement and sustainability plan.